GERMANY
Germany (Deutschland), officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany is the largest country in Central Europe consisting of 16 states that sometimes correspond to historic regions and sometimes grouping very different peoples into the same state. Three of these Bundesländer are city-states: Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg. Because of the legacy of the Cold War, the division between east and west is noticeable.
Berlin is the reunified and reinvigorated capital of Germany; a metropolis of diversity with some of the world’s best-known clubs, shops, galleries and restaurants. As a result of being split it in two for decades during the Cold War, Berlin now boasts more opera houses and museums per capita than most other places in the world and is a worthy rival to London or Paris in terms of history, art and culture. The city’s highlights include the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and checkpoint Charlie on the location of the Berlin Wall.
Warnemünde is a seaside resort near the harbor entrance to Rostock, one of the city-states that formed the medieval Hanseatic League. Originally a fishing village before it became a spa and resort in the 19th century.
Rostock is the largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, though not its capital. It is a hub for Baltic Sea ferries, Germany’s largest port for cruise ships. Rostock stretches along the Warnow River estuary up to the Baltic Sea, with Warnemünde (literally “mouth of the Warnow”) district being a popular seaside resort and long the main port of Rostock. Warnemünde port remains one of the more important German ports for Baltic Sea Ferries as well as Germany’s most important port for cruise ships.
Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city, situated over 100 km upriver from the North Sea on the Elbe. Hamburg has been one of Europe’s most important ports for centuries, its river location allows it to compete with Amsterdam or Venice with the number of canals, most of which are actually former small rivers and streams regulated to allow the sprawling city to expand over their banks. And on top of that, Hamburg has more bridges (over 2,300) than Amsterdam, Venice and London combined.
The Reeperbahn street in St. Pauli district is perhaps its the most defining feature, being a centre of the local nightlife and the city’s “red light district”. From vaudeville to prostitutes, from bars to sex-shops, you can find an assortment of attractions for straight, gay and bi, including multi-floor sex kinks, where the higher the floor you venture, the kinkier the sex acts become. Plus, it is frequently visited by a lot of travelers to go shopping for a huge variety of sex-related articles and toys.
Düsseldorf is a city on the River Rhine in western Germany and is the capital city of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Düsseldorf has the highest concentration of professional services, creative industries and media, and is regarded as the German capital of fashion. The city is famous for its nightlife, carnival, events, shopping and for fashion and trade fairs.
Cologne is a city on the Rhine river in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the fourth largest city in Germany. Cologne has a rich history, reaching back to the time of the ancient Roman Empire, when it was founded. A wealth of architectural heritage can be found across the city ranging from pre-Christian times to strikingly modern buildings, with a high concentration of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Munich is the capital of the federal state of Bavaria in the south of Germany. Standing on the river Isar in Southern Bavaria, it is famous for its beautiful architecture, fine culture, history and the annual Oktoberfest beer festival. Munich has a thriving cultural scene and striking architecture. It was heavily damaged by Allied bombing during World War II, but many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt, including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the City Hall. Munich is one of the most prosperous and fastest growing cities in Germany.